Both environmental and genetic components contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet few studies have investigated the association between AD and pesticides, an ubiquitous environmental exposure which affect the central nervous system. Although DDT was banned in the U.S. in the early 1970's, two recent studies have shown that individuals with AD have higher serum levels of DDE, the metabolite of DDT, compared to non-demented older adults. One of these studies showed an interaction between DDE, APOE and cognitive function. Current understanding of the association between DDT exposure and AD is limited by knowledge gaps due to questions about the generalizability of previous findings, whether milder cognitive changes associated with DDT can be detected prior to symptomatic dementia, and the mechanisms linking DDT to AD. To address these knowledge gaps, we propose to develop a multidisciplinary consortium to explore a set of integrated aims to investigate the association between DDT and late life cognition (including AD) and the potential mechanisms underlying the deleterious effects of DDT on cognition.
The aims will leverage 1) the unique strengths of the parent study, Agricultural Health Study of Memory in Aging (AHS-MA), 2) the translational potential of mice harboring human APOE polymorphisms for detecting molecular biomarkers of exposure and cognitive dysfunction, and 3) the efficiency of the zebrafish model for determining behavioral toxicity and the neural mechanisms of functional impairment. This application builds on the currently funded grant titled `Alzheimer's Disease, Genes, and Pesticide Use in the Agricultural Health Study'.
Specific Aims are: 1) Examine the association between serum organochlorine pesticide levels, including DDT and DDE, with both AD and cognitive function in the AHS-MA cohort of pesticide applicators. Examine the role of APOE in this association. 2) Identify alterations in cognitive function and gene expression from humanized APOE mice exposed to DDT and determine whether altered gene expression in the blood accurately predict changes in the brain. 3) In zebrafish exposed to chronic DDT, examine cognitive function, alterations in neurotransmitters related to AD, and biomarkers of cholinergic innervation and synaptic activity. Knowledge gained from this research can be used to identify modifiable risk factors for AD and to identify mechanisms of action which may lead to developing strategies to reduce AD risk due to environmental exposures.
The public health relevance of the proposed project is that it furthers understanding of environmental exposures related to Alzheimer's Disease (AD) risk, genetic vulnerabilities, and underlying mechanisms associated with suspected pesticide exposure and AD risk. This knowledge benefits public health through strategies to reduce AD risks related to pesticide exposure, which lowers overall disability due cognitive impairment in an aging U.S. population.
